This publication contains preliminary estimates from the Economic Activity Survey (EAS). Final estimates for 2000–01 will be available in the next issue of Business Operations and Industry Performance, Australia (Cat.no.8140.0) due for release In October 2002.

The data contained in this publication are early estimates based on a response rate of 85%.

Estimates from the 1995–96 to 2000–01 Economic Activity Surveys (EAS) are presented in this publication. The estimates contain revisions to previously published estimates that have resulted from further analysis of the data and additional data supplied by providers.

CHANGES IN THIS ISSUE

The Economic Activity Survey (EAS) for 2000–01 excluded data from the Agriculture, forestry and fishing industry.

FUTURE CHANGES

The reduction in coverage due to the exclusion of the Agriculture, forestry and fishing industry is temporary; it is planned to reintroduce this industry in 2002–03.

Other changes will be detailed in the in the next issue of Business Operations and Industry Performance, Australia (Cat.no.8140.0).

In April 2000, the ABS released an information paper, ABS Statistics and The New Tax System (Cat.no.1358.0), which foreshadowed changes in the statistical infrastructure supporting the compilation of ABS economic series. The changes will allow better use of data available from the taxation system to improve efficiency, coverage and sample design.

This publication presents the last release of estimates from the Economic Activity Survey compiled using the old infrastructure.

In the next release of this publication, estimates for the latest period will be compiled on the new basis. To facilitate comparisons over time, that release will include estimates of the impact on statistical series of the infrastructure changes.

An information paper, Improvements in ABS Economic Statistics [Arising from The New Tax System] (Cat.no.1372.0), was released on the 6th May 2002. That paper describes the forthcoming changes in more detail and provides information about the treatment of statistical impacts of the changes across ABS economic series.